Published 8:00 am, Friday, May 2, 2014

Photo: Neil Blake/Midland Daily News

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NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netStudents and parents stand by during the dedication ceremony for the peace pole at Adams Elementary School on Wednesday. The peace pole has eight languages on it that say the words, "May peace prevail on the Earth." The dedication was part of Adams' 50th anniversary celebration. less

NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netStudents and parents stand by during the dedication ceremony for the peace pole at Adams Elementary School on Wednesday. The peace pole has eight languages on it that say the words, ... more

Photo: Neil Blake/Midland Daily News

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NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netMusician Dan Hall sings "Every Day's a Great Day at Adams" during an open house celebrating Adams Elementary School's 50th anniversary. Hall collaborated on the song with the students at the school. "We've been strong 50 years, we'll be strong 50 more," said Hall in the song. less

NEIL BLAKE | nblake@mdn.netMusician Dan Hall sings "Every Day's a Great Day at Adams" during an open house celebrating Adams Elementary School's 50th anniversary. Hall collaborated on the song with the students ... more

A standing-room-only crowd marked the 50th year of Adams Elementary School on Wednesday, with reminiscences, the dedication of a Peace Pole and a catchy original song.

The school, on Adams Street in Midland, started classes in August 1963, said Principal Linda Lipsitt at a packed gathering in the school gym.

“There’s great pride and joy looking back over the last 50 years,” Lipsitt said.

She noted that the school is “proud of the tradition” and its “ongoing focus on excellence.”

Some traditions have endured, such as the school’s choir, band and orchestra and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Changes have included enclosing the building’s original courtyard in 1990 and, more recently, launching an iPad pilot for third-graders and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

Current and former staff were recognized, as were many volunteers.

The choir treated the gathering to three songs — “Shenandoah,” “How Can I Keep from Singing?” and “Don’t Let the Music Stop” — that drew loud applause for the students’ poise and talent. They were conducted by vocal music teacher Darla Iaquinta.

The original song performed at the event was led by singer-songwriter Dan Hall, who collaborated with students on “Every Day’s a Great Day at Adams,” which also happens to be the school motto.

Hall said fourth-graders wrote the chorus, and other grades contributed the verses.

The choir was joined by what appeared to be most of the student body enthusiastically singing the song. Teachers and other staff members sang along or mouthed the words, especially the chorus:

“Every day’s a great day at Adams

Our friends and our teachers are here.

We’ve been strong 50 years, we’ll be strong 50 more.

Preparing for our future, that’s what learning is for.

Every day’s a great day at Adams.”

The performance was greeted by loud cheers and even some tears, and was followed by many greetings and hugs.

“It’s wonderful to bring students and former students and teachers all together,” said Maggi Steele, a first grade teacher who has been at Adams for 30 years.

A display of the school’s diversity was also part of the celebration, as the school’s Peace Pole was dedicated outside the building. Foreign language teacher Kim McMahan introduced members of the “Culture Club,” of which she is the sponsor.

They also said “May peace prevail” in the countries they were representing — the U.S., Colombia, France, Germany, China, Japan, India and Israel.

McMahan said there are more than 200,000 Peace Poles around the world, and they “symbolize the oneness of humanity.”

“It’s a silent visual for peace to prevail on Earth,” she said.

McMahan told those gathered around the pole that she grew up in Caseville, where there was no diversity, and said arriving at Adams was a revelation.

“I was so excited to be in a school with people from all over the world,” she said. “It helps students learn how to be better world citizens.” She said more than 35 countries are represented at Adams.

Funds for the pole were raised by the Adams Parent-Teacher Organization.

Inside the school, Adams paraprofessional Wendy Cooper and her daughter, Sarah, a former Adams student who is now a first grade teacher at Carpenter Street Elementary, looked over photo albums and yearbooks at a hallway display.

“I think it’s great,” Wendy said. “I think it’s interesting to go back and look at the old pictures.”

Sarah pointed to photos of a “student appreciation assembly” in which staff performed for students. She also recalled the days when the school’s original courtyard design was still in place.

Parent Jenny Harley said the anniversary event was “kind of inspirational.”